Someone lives in a mountain gorgecloud robe and sunset tasselsholding sweet plants he would sharebut the road is long and hardburdened by regrets and doubtsold and unaccomplishedcalled by others crippledhe stands alone steadfast

The "someone" is, of course, Han Shan himself, the hermit and sage. The sweet plants he would share are the quiet wisdom he has gathered which offer the sweetness of meditative ecstasy.

But few come to him to receive what he has to offer. The road to reach him is "long and hard." You can only make the journey by facing "regrets and doubts," carrying them courageously rather than endlessly evading them.

Daunted by such impediments, most seekers then tell themselves that the sage is no sage at all, just an old man, who has wasted his life in inactivity rather than gaining socially approved accomplishments. He is crippled.

Who then comes. The sage "stands alone steadfast" appreciating his treasures in solitude.